I'd love to use the tremolo but it puts my guitar out of tune

Even after getting a professional set-up when I use the whammy bar for even one song it puts the guitar out of tune. I do not have locking tuners. I do not have Floyd Rose or anything like that. Just the standard MIM Strat bridge, which I do not have floating.... should I just give up on the whammy bar and use a pedal instead? I'd love to be able to use the whammy bar for an entire 10 song set without my guitar going out of tune

When it goes out of tune ,wiggle the bar again.If it goes back in tune,the strings are hanging up in the string tree or nut.But these stock bridges are made to stay in tune,and if set up correctly ,they do.The Fender website should tell you how to do this.

you need to lube everything.
lube the nut, the saddles, and even the bridge plate where it touches the 6 screws.
the trems on my two mim strats stay in tune well.
the stock string tree was too low on both strats and causing tuning problems. I switched it out for the tree found on mia standards and it fixed the problem. I lube the underside of the trees too.

When it goes out of tune ,wiggle the bar again.If it goes back in tune,the strings are hanging up in the string tree or nut.But these stock bridges are made to stay in tune,and if set up correctly ,they do.The Fender website should tell you how to do this.

When it goes out of tune ,wiggle the bar again.If it goes back in tune,the strings are hanging up in the string tree or nut.But these stock bridges are made to stay in tune,and if set up correctly ,they do.The Fender website should tell you how to do this.

My standard trems work just fine and stay in tune as well. If it’s set up correctly, it will return to pitch and stay in tune. There are many variables and factors that can contibute here. Strings need to be thoroughly stretched, there needs to be no hangups on the saddles, nut, or string trees etc. But to say that you need a “trem upgrade” or that FR systems are the only answer just is not true.

you need to lube everything.
lube the nut, the saddles, and even the bridge plate where it touches the 6 screws.
the trems on my two mim strats stay in tune well.
the stock string tree was too low on both strats and causing tuning problems. I switched it out for the tree found on mia standards and it fixed the problem. I lube the underside of the trees too.

some lip balm called burts bees. I use a toothpick to apply it. I apply it everywhere I said before except the bridge plate touching the screws.....I do that maybe once every year or two.View attachment 284689

The following opinions are redundant with some of the above info. It assumes that you're stretching out your string set until they're stable. Another assumption is that you're winding strings correctly at the posts.

1. The entire MIM standard bridge assembly is capable of functioning properly. 1000s do right now.
2. It can function properly either full-floating or decked.
3. That professional set-up wasn't. It was incomplete and/or they didn't understand Strats.
4. Back to the set-up, the nut needs to be cut properly or tuning issues will occur.
5. Unless you're a dive bomber, you don't need a Floyd or anything like it to return to tune.
6. You don't need locking tuners if you wind correctly.
7. Your tuners might seem sloppy, but it doesn't affect tuning stability. Tuners don't "unwind."
8. If you need to lubricate anything, you're lubricating a symptom without fixing the underlying problem.

Take it to a different tech: tell he/she the problem and any preferences you might have. Pay for a complete set-up. Play it, measure everything, watch the videos in a previous post, try it yourself next time. You can't do anything to it that can't be corrected.

The following opinions are redundant with some of the above info. It assumes that you're stretching out your string set until they're stable. Another assumption is that you're winding strings correctly at the posts.

1. The entire MIM standard bridge assembly is capable of functioning properly. 1000s do right now.
2. It can function properly either full-floating or decked.
3. That professional set-up wasn't. It was incomplete and/or they didn't understand Strats.
4. Back to the set-up, the nut needs to be cut properly or tuning issues will occur.
5. Unless you're a dive bomber, you don't need a Floyd or anything like it to return to tune.
6. You don't need locking tuners if you wind correctly.
7. Your tuners might seem sloppy, but it doesn't affect tuning stability. Tuners don't "unwind."
8. If you need to lubricate anything, you're lubricating a symptom without fixing the underlying problem.

Take it to a different tech: tell he/she the problem and any preferences you might have. Pay for a complete set-up. Play it, measure everything, watch the videos in a previous post, try it yourself next time. You can't do anything to it that can't be corrected.

Click to expand...

great advice thanks!.. technically it wasn't a 'full set up' so to say... I don't believe he did anything to the nut or frets... He shimmed the neck to get the action lower, adjusted truss rod, and re-strung.. $35 + strings

My standard trems work just fine and stay in tune as well. If it’s set up correctly, it will return to pitch and stay in tune. There are many variables and factors that can contibute here. Strings need to be thoroughly stretched, there needs to be no hangups on the saddles, nut, or string trees etc. But to say that you need a “trem upgrade” or that FR systems are the only answer just is not true.

Click to expand...

From my experience, if you only use the trem for light vibratos, then several systems work OK - Bigsby, Fender, some of the Gibson Vibrolas.

If you "abuse" the trem, as in drop the tension fully on the strings, or want it to bend notes up, etc., then some FR or similar fully locking trem will stay in tune. For me that's the only reason to use a trem.

Yes, you are correct, depending on your needs other systems work.

I only have one guitar set up for trem use, and it came with a FR from the factory.